Safety apparatus for steam-boilers.



H. NEVILLE. SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS. APPLIOATION FILED J NE 2, 1910.

Pate'nted Oct. 3, 1911.

r 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. NEVILLE- I SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1910.

Patentd Oct. 3, 1911.

4 sums-$113251? 2 SWMM Hr NEVILLE. SAFETY APPARATUS FORSTEAM BOILERS. APPLICATION-FILED JUNE 2, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Ill/M Patented. Oct. 3, 1911,

H. NEVILLE. SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 2, 1910.

1,004,896. Patented 0013,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1 Ailililili' m I a Will-l mm- UNITED ETAIEE PATENT @FFIQE.

HARRY NEVILLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO GEORGE E. GOQDWIN, ONE-FIFTH T0 DANIEL P. KELLOGG, ONE-FIFTH TO WILLIAM F. MERRY, AND ONE-FIFTH T0 PATRICK SHEEDY, ALL OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Application filed June 2, 1910. Serial No. 564,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY NEVILLE, a

citizen of the United. States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Apparatus for SteanrBoilers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to safety devices for steam boilers by the use of which explosions are prevented and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device which will be located entirely exteriorly to the boiler and will have a single point of communication therewith whereby certainty in the operation of the apparatus will be assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when the water of the boiler reaches a predetermined level, an alarm will be automatically sounded and on the continuance of the abnormal condition the fire will be automatically extinguished.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of'certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front end view of an oil burning boiler showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of a coal or wood burning boiler showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section of the boiler shown in F ig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve and the means whereby the same is automatically opened to admit steam to the alarm and to the fire controlling devices. Flg. 6 1s a detall sectionof the ring which supports the locking pin for the packing nut on the valve. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8'8 of Fig. 3. F i 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the. oi fuel controlling valve and means for operating the same. Fig. 10 is a cross sect-iona't view of the valve shown in Fig. 9 and taken on the line 1414: of said figure. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve for controlling the water for putting out a wood or coal fire. Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view on the line 16-16 01 Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a similar view of the valve for cutting off steam from the alarm indicator and inspirator operating valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes a boiler to which is applied and secured at any desired position my improved safety mechanism, said mechanism comprising a steam and water cylinder having on one side apertured ears or lugs 3 whereby the same is bolt-ed or otherwise secured to the boiler as shown. .On the opposite side of the cylinder 2 is formed a wing or extension 4 through which is formed a series of transverse tubes 5 which permit a circulation of air which serves to cool the cylinder.

In the wing or extension 4 adjacent its upper end is formed a threaded port 6 while at its lower end is formed a threaded port 7 said ports being connected by a 1011- gitudinal passage 8. With the ports Hand 7 are connected steam and water conducting tubes 9 and 10 which are joined adjacent the cylinder 2, as shown, and lead to a valve 11 which in turn is connected with a nipple 12 arranged in the boiler at such a point as has been determined upon as a low water level or danger point. By thus arranging the nipple l2 and connecting pipes 9 and 10 water from the boiler will enter the cylinder 2 as long as the level of said water remains above the nipple, the level of the water in the cylinder and the boiler being the same. As the water in the boiler falls below the level of the nipple the water will run out of the cylinder 2 back into the boiler and will be replaced by steam passing through the nipple from the boiler which will operate the mechanism in the manner hereinafter described.

In the lower end of the cylinder 2 is formed a threaded blow oil port 13 with which is connected a blow 01? pipe 14 having arranged therein a cut off valve By means of the blow ofi port 13 and pipe 14 any sediment. or corrosion may be blown out of the cylinder and the latter thus kept clean and free from foreign matter. In

. the upper end of the cylinder 2 is formed a flanged upper end of the mercury cup, 1s

arranged a steel diaphragm 19 the outer edge of which is clamped between suitable packing washers or rings 20 arranged and clamped between the flanged upper end of the mercury cylinder and the adjacent por-' tion of the cap nut 16 as shown. WVith the diaphragm 19 is engaged the headed lower end of avalve liftingv pin 21 which has a sliding engagement with a stalling box 22 arranged in the upper portion of the cap nut 16 as shown. On the upper side of the capnut 16 is formed an interiorly threaded socket 23 into which is screwed the lower end of a valve casing 24 within which is arranged a valve seat 25 adapted to be engaged by a valve 26. The valve 26 is provided with a tubular downwardly projecting stem 27 the lower end of which has a sliding engagement with a stufiing box 28 arranged -'in an enlarged hollow portion 29 of the valve casing 24 as shown. In the sides of the enlarged portion 29 of the valve casing is formed a series of radial openings 30 which permit a circulation of air for the purpose of cooling the deviceand which also provide means whereby access may be i had to the packing nut of the stuffing box 28.

The head of the packing nut is provided with an annular series of notches 31 adapted to be engaged by a locking pin 32 slidably mounted in a socket 33 formed on a supporting ring 34 which engages the valve-casing 24 and rests upon the enlarged portion 29 thereof as shown. The ring 34 is formed in twosections, the ends of which are riveted together'after being engaged with the valve casing thereby securely holding said ring and the socket 33 in place. The lock'nig finger 32 is provided with a reduced stem- 35' which projects through a guideopening in the end of the socket and is provided with a removable head 36. On the reducedstem 35 of the locking pin in the socket 33 is arranged a coiled spring 37 the pressure of.

which is exerted to force the pininwardly and into engagement with the notches 31 in the nut 28 thereby holding said. nut against retrograde movement after it has been adjusted to the desired extent.

. On the upper end of the valve 26 is formeda tubular exteriorly threaded extension 38.

The lower end ofthe tubular valve stem 27 is interiorly threaded, as shown at 39,,and with said interiorly threaded portion 39 is engaged the threaded lower end of a pressure regulating rod or bolt which extends upwardly through the tubular valve stem.

The extension 38 on the upper end of the valve passes through a stuffing box 41 arranged on the threaded extension 38. The upper end" of the rod or bolt 40 is threaded and projects abox e the stuffing box 41 and has fitted thereon a lock nut 42. On the extreme upper end of the rod or bolt 40 is formed a 'squared wrench receiving extension 43 whereby said bolt may be screwed up or down in the tubular stein 27 of the valve 26 thereby regulating the position of the lifting pin 21 which engages the diaphragm 19 and has its upper end projecting a slight distance up into the valve stem 27 as shown. After the bolt or rod 40 has thus been adjusted the lock nut 42 is'scr'ewed down on the threaded upper end of the bolt and into engagement with the stutfing box 41 thereby locking the bolt in its adjusted position.

Adapted to bescrewed into the upper end of the valve casing 24 is a protecting cap 44 which covers the upper end of the bolt 40 and the adjusting nut 42 and stufling box 41 thus preventing tampering with or injury to these parts. Arranged in the cap 44 and bearing upon the lock nut 42 is a coiled spring 45 the pressure of which is exerted to' hold the valve- 26 in yielding engagement with its seat 25 in the valve casing 24. On the lower end of the lifting pin 21 between the head thereof and the, inner wall of a recess 46 formed in the cap nut 16 is a coiled pin projecting spring 47 the pressure of which is exerted to force-the lifting pin 21 and the diaphragm 19 downwardly into an operative position for-engagement by :the mercury when the same is expanded 1n the cup17. V As the cylinder 2 is on the outer side ofthe boiler, the water in the same will naturally be of a lower temperature than the water within theboiler and the temperature of the water in the cylinder 2 will not be suflicient' to cause the mercury in the, cup 17 to expand. flWhen, however, the water in the boiler falls below thelevel of the nipple 12, the water in 'the cylinder 2 will run back in the boiler and the steamwill enter th'e'cylinder- 2, the'temperature of this steam causing the mercury in the cup 17 toexpand against the diaphragm 19 the lifting p1n' 21 will be raised and by reason of its enwill raise said bolt-and the valve 26 against the pressure of the springs 45 and 47, thus allowing steam or other fluid to pass through the valve casing 24 for the purpose.

of sounding an alarm. 'ThiS alarm; will.

notify the attendant of the low level of'the.

' gagement withthe lower end of the bolt 40 plosions, I preferably provide means to antomatically extinguish the tire or to restore the water level should the attendant not respond promptly to the alarm.

v One endot the valve casing 24: is connected by a steam supply pipe 48 with the usual steam distributing chest or dome 49 arranged on and connected with the boiler. The pipe 48 is provided with a cut oil valve 50 whereby the How of steam to the valve casing 24 is controlled. i IWhile I have shown and described the pipedS as being connected with a steam distributing chest it is obvious that said pipe may be connected directly to the boiler or to any live steam pipe leading therefrom. The opposite end of the valve casing'Ql has connected thereto a nipple 51 with which is'engaged a fourway coupling 52 to one branch of which is connected a steam conducting pipe 53 which in Figs.

6 1 and 2 of the drawings is shown as extending laterally and downwardly below the boiler where it'is connected withthe cylinder 54 of an automatically operated fuel controlling valve 55 for cutting oil' the supply of oil fuel from the burners 56 of the boiler. The steam cylinder 5% has arranged therein a piston 57 the piston rod 58 of wh ch is connected to the valve 55 which is 'slidably mounted in the valve casing 59 to ,.which is connected the oil supply pipe for the burners 56. In the cylinder 54 and engaging the piston 57 is a valve opening spring-60. The steam conducting pipe 53 is connected with the head of the cylinder 54 whereby the steam entering said cylinder from said pipe will force the piston forwardly against the pressure of the spring 60 thereby closing the valve and holding the same in closed position as long as the steam pressure is maintained in the cylinder. When the cylinder is relieved from said steam pressure the spring will retract the piston thereby opening the valve and entering the steam cylinder.

permitting the oil to again flow to the burners. The piston rod 58 works through a stuffing box 61 whereby oil which may possibly get past the valve is prevented from of the cylinder is formed a port 62 to per mit the discharge of condensed steam and in said cylinder on the opposite side of the piston isalso formed a port 63 whereby any water which may have leaked past the piston permitted to drain from the casing.

- It will be understood, of course, that the oil supply is admitted to the valve casing 59 through a main supply pipetitted with a hand valve. When the alve 55 cuts oil' the flow to the burners, thishand valve is closed and remains closed until after normal con-- ditions are restored in the boiler. It is then again opened and theo1l-again ignited un- In the head i shown a steam conducting pipe 53 which is connected with the fourway coupling 52 and takes the place of the steam conducting pipe 53 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The pipe 53 is employed in connection with wood or coal burning boilers and extends downwardly and inwardly to a position immediately above the fire in the fire box of the boiler. The lower end of the pipe 53 is connected with the steam cylinder at containing mechanism through which water is let into the fire box for the purpose of quenching the fire. \Vith one end of the cylinder 64; is connected a valve casing 65 in which is arranged a cut off valve 66 with one end of which is connected a water conducting pipe 67 and with the opposite end of which is connected a water supply pipe 68 having arranged therein a controlling valve 69. The pipe 67 is 'connected with a series of hollow stay bolts 70 arranged between the outer shell of the boiler and the tire box and through which the water is injected or sprayed onto the fire thus extinguishing the same.

The valve 66 in the casing 65 is connected to one end of a piston rod 71, the 9.5

opposite end of which projects through a stutling box 72 and into the steam cylinder 6d and is connected with a piston 73 which works in said cylinder. Between the piston 73 and the head of the cylinder is arranged a'coiled spring 74 the pressure of WlllCll is exerted upon the piston'to cause the latter to close the valve 66 and to normally hold the same in closed position thus cutting off the water from the pipe 67 until the valve is opened by the pressure of steam admitted to the steam cylinder 64 through a steam port 75 arranged in one side of the cylinder between the piston and the adjacent end of the cylinder as clearly shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. The cylinder 64: is provided with drain ports corresponding to the drain ports in the cylinder 54 for the purpose of discharging the waters of condensation from said cylinder.

\Vith the fourway coupling 52 is also connected a steam conducting pipe 76 which extends to a coupling 77 with which is connected a steam conducting pipe 78 leading to a whistle 79 which is operated by the 120 steam passing through said pipes to sound an alarm which will give notice that the water in the boiler has reached the danger level. With the coupling 77 is also connected a steam conducting pipe 80 which extends around one side of the boiler and is connected with a steam cylinder 81 containing a piston on the projecting end of which is a clevis 84 adapted to engage the operating lever of an inspirator, whereby -water is supplied to the boiler. With the coupling 77 is also connected a steam conducting pipe 87 which leads to and is connected with a recording indicator 88 by means of which the number of timesthe water in the boiler has reached a low water level will be indicated and recorded.

Should the pressure of the steam increase notwithstanding its use to operate the whistle, the indicator, and the inspirator in the described manner, the entire force of the steam is thrownonto the controlling devices at the fire line; The means for thus cutting off the whistle, inspirato'r and indicator comprises a cylinder 105 which is con- .nected at one end by a pipe 106 to the fourway coupling 52. The cylinder 105 has arranged therein a spring retracted piston 107, the piston rod 108 of which works through a stufling box and projects into a valve casing 109 arranged in the steam conducting pipe 7 6. On the projecting end of the piston rod 108 is arranged a valve 110 which is operated by the movement of the piston to cut off the supply of steam passing through the pipe 7 G to the whistle indicator and inspirator operating mechanism. By means of the steam cylinder 105 and the valve operating mechanism arranged in and connected therewith the steam after reaching a pressure suflicient to overcome the spring in the cylinder, will close the valve 110 in the manner and for the purpose described.

The ordinary o eration of the device will seat the valve 26 ust after theinspirator is actuated, but should the steam be generated so rapidly as to approach the danger point and prevent such action, the steam will pass to the cylinder 54 or 64, as the case may be, and exerina pressure on the piston therein su lent to overcome the resistance'of the spring bearing on the piston so that the fire will be extinguished in the hereinbefore describedmanner.

- When the valve 26 is opened, steam will flow to the coupling 52 and the main portion thereof will follow the straight path definedby the pipe 76 and will, consequently, pass to the whistle, the indicator,and the ininder 105 will be strong enough the initial pressure of the steam and hold spirator. Someof the steam will, however, pass through the pipe 106 to the cylinder 105 and some will also pass to the combustion controlling devices, but the spring in the cylinder containing the combustion controlling devices and the spring in the cylto withstand the pistons -.in their respective normal or initial positions until steam accumulates in the respective E pesirr suffim quantities to exert ,a prssure whichwill ove, come the ret me of the said springs. The cut-oh. is thus gradually projected across the pipe 76 so that the steamwill be pr'evente from flowing to the whistle, the indicator, and the j ated to extinguish the fire or cut oft the within said pipe,

inspirator, and the entire body of steam will then be directed to the combustion controlling devices so that the valves will be opersupply of fuel as heretofore described. The attendant will thus have time enough to restore normal conditions in the boiler before the fires will be automatically extinguished, but, if such attention should not be given, the'full pressure of the steam will be exerted upon the combustion controlling devices to operate the same.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing's, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion .and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

1. The combination with a steam boiler, of an alarm, a ipe leading from the steam space in the boiler to the alarm, a valve in said pipe, a coupling in said pipe beyond said valve, a cut-off beyond the said coupling disposed normally at one side of said pipe, a pipe leading from said coupling to said cut-01f to admit steam thereto whereby to project it across the first-mentioned pipe, a pipe lea-din from said'coupling to the fire box of the boiler, a valve arranged-adjacent the'fire box to be' actuated by the-steam pass ing through said pipe to control the coma steam casin on the boiler and bustion,

therewith, and a heat recommunicating first-mentioned valve.

2. The combination ,With a steam boiler, of an alarm, a pipe leading from thesteam space of theboiler to the alarm, a valve acoupling in said pipe bea pipe leading .from said box of the boiler, combustion controllin devices adjacent the fire box and actuated by the steampassing through said pipe, a cylinder beyond.the coupling, at one side of the pipe leading from the steam space of "the boiler, a piston within said cylinder carrying a cut-off adapted to project across the first-mentioned pipe, a spring within the cylinder to hold yond said valve, coupling to the fire ton will be lowered and the cut-off projected aerossthe pipe leading'from the steam space 130 or" the boile p '105 ,sponsive element in said casing to operate and a heat-responsive e1e- 3. The combination with a steam boiler, of an alarm connected therewith, combustioncont-rolling devices, heat-responsive mechanism connected with the boiler and arranged to admit steam to the alarm, and connections between the alarm and the combnstion-contro11ing devices whereby prolonged admission of steam by the heat-responsive mechanism will stop the alarm and cause the combustion-controlling devices to 10 arrest combustion.

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence of two subscribmg 'w1t- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

